After the destruction of the _Good Hope_ and _Monmouth_, Von Spee cruised for a short time in the Eastern Pacific, and then made his way in leisurely fashion round the Horn with the intention of crossing to South Africa. In a fatal moment he decided to attack the British Colony at Falkland Islands first, and it was this that brought him within reach of Admiral Sturdee’s guns. It is clear enough from his conduct--let alone admissions made by prisoners afterwards--that he had no idea whatever of the strength of the force that had been sent out to attack him. He fully expected to find _Canopus_ at Port Stanley, and he thought it possible that _Carnarvon_ and _Glasgow_ might be there also. And these ships he was quite prepared to engage. It was quite a different thing, however, to take on two battle-cruisers that under any bearing could bring between them a dozen 12-inch guns into action and, on certain bearings, four more. As will be seen from the despatch, the moment he realized the strength against him, he adopted what seemed the only possible course, namely flight.
“At 8 A.M. on Tuesday, the 8th December, a signal was received from the signal station on shore:--
“‘A four-funnel and two-funnel man-of-war in sight from Sapper Hill, steering northwards.’
“At this time, the positions of the various ships of the squadron were as follows:--
“_Macedonia_: At anchor as look-out ship.
“_Kent_ (guardship): At anchor in Port William.
“_Invincible_ and _Inflexible_: In Port William.
“The _Kent_ was at once ordered to weigh, and a general signal was made to raise steam for full speed.
“At 8:20 A.M. the signal station reported another column of smoke in sight to the southward, and at 8:45 A.M. the _Kent_ passed down the harbour and took up a station at the entrance.
“The _Canopus_, Captain Heathcoat S. Grant, reported at 8:47 A.M. that the first two ships were eight miles off, and that the smoke reported at 8:20 A.M. appeared to be the smoke of two ships about twenty miles off.
“At 8:50 A.M. the signal station reported a further column of smoke in sight to the southward.
“The _Macedonia_ was ordered to weigh anchor on the inner side of the other ships, and await orders.”
Here the signal, it will be observed, says “a four-funnel and two-funnel man of war.” The ships were probably end on when they were seen, and in the _Nürnberg_ there was a considerable gap between the after-funnel and the two forward funnels. Seen from a point a little off the direct keel line, she would seem therefore to have two funnels only.